Tent carried on vehicle



March 4, 1958 M. H. THORNTON 2,825,351

TENT CAERIEDQ'ON VEHICLE Filed sept. 28, 19534 5 sheets-sheet 1 rrogvr March 4, 195s M.' THORNTON 2,825,351

TENT CARRIED ON VEHICLE I N VEN TORA /174 rf/EA/ Af. 72cm/raw March 4, 1958 M. H. THORNTON 2,325,351

rrENT CARRIED oN VEHICLE Filed Sept. 28 l 1953 3 Sheets-'Sheecl 3 INVENToR.

M4 r//Eu/A( /oKA/o/v States This invention relates to a tent to be used for camping, touring, ice fishing, etc., and more specifically to a camping tent to be used in connection with a vehicle. It is desirable to have a tent such as can be conveniently carried on a vehicle and be placed in a suspended operating position adjacent one side or said vehicle when so desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tent which when not in use can be carried on a vehicle and which when in use can be held in suspended position adjacent one side of said vehicle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tent disposable in a casing carried on a vehicle, said casing having members therein slidable to one side thereof and having the upper portion of said tent secured thereto whereby said tent may be held in a suspended position adjacent one side of said vehicle.

It is another obiect of this invention to provide a tent disposable in a casing to be carried on a vehicle, said casing having guide members therein, a holding member slidable to one side of said casing in said guide members, said tent having its upper end portion secured to said holding member and means secured to said holding member to foldably raise said tent upwardly to said holding member whereby said tent may be held in suspended position adjacent one side of said vehicle and said tent may be placed in a raised accordion-like folded condition to be disposed in said casing.

It is more speciically an object of this invention to provide a tent, a casing generally rectangular in form secured to the top of a vehicle, said casing having guide members, supporting members slidable in said guide members and movable to one side of said casing transversely of said vehicle, a top member disposable in said casing and slidable in said guide members, said last mentioned member having the upper end portion of said tent secured thereto, a bottom member secured to the bottom portion of said tent, means for connecting said bottom member and said top member and for moving said bottom member upwardly toward said top member whereby said bottom member may be moved upwardly toward said top member and said tent may be placed in a folded position therebetween and sai-d members and said tent may be disposed in said casing.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a View of applicants device in side elevation in position on a vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a view of applicants device in side elevation in operating position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing applicants device in end elevation in operating position with some parts shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a partial top plan view of applicants device in operating position with some parts shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of applicants device taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows; v

Fig. 7 is a partial view in elevation with some parts shown in vertical section, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a partial top plan view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 9, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a partial view in vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a partial View in vertical section taken on line iiilil of Fig. 9, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 1l is a partial view in vertical section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. l2 is a view in side elevation of a modification of a portion or applicants device showing some parts in dotted iine, some parts in section and some parts in a broken View.

Referring tothe drawings, and more specifically to Figs. l-3, a vehicle 1i) is shown. Said vehicle may be any of the hard top type vehicles in use. Carried on said vehicle is a casing 11. Said casing is generally parallelepiped in form and has leg portions 11a extending therebelow. Said leg portions have suction members 11b at their lower end portions which support said casing on said vehicle. Said suction members 11b rest on the roof of said vehicle. Secured at each side of said casing are strap members 12. Said strap members 12 have secured to their respective end portions hook members 12a which are hooked to channel members 16a which run longitudinally across the upper edge portions of said vehicle and are common in the construction of all such vehicles. An additional pair of supporting strap members 12C having hook end por'- tions 12d are disposed about the window frames at one side of said vehicle.

Said member 11 in the embodiment of the invention here isclosed, is approximately the size in plan as the top portion of said vehicle. Hingedly secured to one side of said casing 11 is an upwardly swinging closing' member 11e. Said member 11C extends the length of one side of said casing longitudinally of said vehicle. Said casing 11 is comprised of side members 11d and 11e, a top member 11], a bottom member 11g and an end member 11h. Disposed in said casing 11 along the upper edge portions of sides 11a' and 11e and coextensive therewith are channel members 13 and 14 respectively. Said channel members respectively comprise iiange portions 13a and 14a and web portions 13b and Mb. The outer edge portions 13e and 14C respectively of said flange members are turned inwardly at right angles to restrict the opening therebetween. The open sides of said channels are disclosed as facing each other. Slidable in said channels is a substantially rectangular rigid member or frame 15 which is formed of side channel members 15a and 15b and end bar members 15e and 15d. Said bar members have en larged outer end portions 15e, the same being respectively secured by screws 18 to members 15a and 15b at their respective points of intersection. Member 15d is here disclosed as intersecting members 15a and 15b a short distance back of their respective end portions. Said member 15 is slidable in channels 13 and 14 transversely of said vehicle 1b.

Pivotally secured to members 15a and 15b respectively are auxiliary supporting members 16 and 17. Said memers 15 and 17 are formed as channel shaped members having their open sides facing each other. Said members 16 and 17 are respectively secured to members 15a and 15b by hinge members 19. Said hinge members are here disclosed as being formed in the shape of channel members respectively having the greater porassetati.

secured thereto by rivets, 21.

by Yrivets 22. Memberselrt; and jare-,constructedto 'be .swung -inwardly tcp-.tave'i-Iap YWhen not in ,f use when-said Said members 19 I e-v Yspectively have their other end portions'disposed 1nv 'members 15a-fand;1512;and are ,pivotally 3 securedV thereto Y casing Vl11,.` iszinrpaclcedf-,condition and topbeuswung jout- K wardly in aV horizontal plane whenV placed inioperating gositionffto'be inajlignment respectively with members 1.5ha11dr15b. A When-member v15 is moved Voutwardlyof casing 11, said members 16 and 17 arel'moved forwardly intqsaidcasingginfchannels 13 and v14 respectively and extend Youtwardly of thefother side of said ca'singgforl a short-.-dista nce fand .become supporting 1 membersjto hold Vsaid member 157,- 1in, suspended position.

,-.Disposeddmmembers 16 and-'17 Vadjacent said hinges 19 are relativelyshortjvslidable members Y23. Said slida- .blef members are here disclosed .as vbeing A.formed as lbars substantiallyrectangular in vertical'cross section and Yareqmtwahiepin channels 16 and 17 throughsaid hinges '19 to ,'havefend portions thereof respectively disposed -in j the gendportions of-members 15a and'15b. Stopfmem-VV bers 24'are provided in membersV 16 and 17 respectively `and?shown hereas araised lug portion to limit the movementmf-,fmember -23A away from members n15a and 15b.Y

A4-plurality'of2ange portions 32 aresecured to members 1A5a,f15b,Y 16;-and'17, .as :disclosed in Fig. 10, to hold said members 24 in operating position.

jacent,- theleto are moved over Ysaid rollers.

YtentfZG Vis iprovided.' Said tent 'may be made 'of anyffof the Ywell known `materials used Yfor-this purpose and.;.said` tent-is here: disclosed as being substantially Y rectangular iti-cross' section. .An opening 26a is provided alloue side fof said tent and-isirmed as a doorway'. Y A

flexible windowrgz'b.; is provided at one side 'of saidtent. lheiupper` end portion of-saidtent-is securedr'toV the four sides of memberlS and may be secured theretoin any siiitablemanner, as by rivets or by clamps.VV A sub- Y stantially rectangular member 28 is provided which hasV secnredft-hereto Ythe lower end portion fof Asaid tent 26. Connecting members l30 are provided and are here disclosedV as being-rnadefofrope.V Said members are dis-u RollersY 20 arerrespectively` journaled in the endportions ofsaid .channel members :13 and 14 fat'one side Vof said casing` and said` Vmembers d5 and the portions of members 16 and 17 ad-V Ypos'edf-through openings vprovided in veach of the corners Y ofmembersf'28rand Ythrough members 15C and A15d in verticalalignment therewith. iSaid members 3Q respectively have :endsvfastened to the underportion ofY each ofethecorners of saidV member V28 and extending Vupwrdlyl throughfeach ofthe openings of members, V175e and #15d wh'erebythe endsV of members 30 extending thronghthe openings of'members 15e and 15d maybe pulled downwardly to raise member 2%V upwardly towards member 1 5-and tent V26gis accordion Yfolded therebetween. Washersl 3ft are provided at the, underside Yor member 28 to .actv as holding members for the lower ends Vof memandV rigidity to Vsaid hinge 4members 19.V Members'j30 are then unfastened and'releasedso Vthat member28 Ywill f Vmove downwardlyzrand'tentf26'will becomejunfolded and Y pulled downwardlyby thel action of gravity.Y Said Vtent 26 is thenready'to'r use; Ifdesired, Vitlmay then be Y fastenedin position, las'by. stakes,fin a manner wellgknown to all users oftents if `it is so desired. Hook member 29a isV placed in position and loop 31 is placed oversaid hook 29a to raise the central top portion 'of said tent sof4 that it Vwill shed water easily. Tent 26V is thus'placed i injoperatin'g position.

Whenfit` desired topack tent 26 Vrnay thenbe easily fastened, to holdl said member: "28 in raised position. Y Y wardly of casing 11 in `guide members 13and14. 1 ,Glosing member 11C is moved downwardly.; Membern-16V and 17 which now-.extend outwa-rdlyfof said gcasin'gj.v are vfolded to overlap one another. Y' Said Vtent is now. .corripletely packed insraicl casinggll.

Referring toF-ig. 12, member111isfshown:somewhat modiedY-in form having apertured bracketsf32-'secured to each end thereof. An auxiliary casing 233 provided having :apertured brackets -34 rsecuredgthereto, respectivelyiin-alignment withsaid ibrackets Y32.4 Fastening members 3 6, here illustrated. Vas2bo1ts,` arerviprov'idedto i secure Vsaidbrackets together.V .Y

Y Said auxiliary casingg 33 provides various articles which would be used :inV campingfor touring. Casing 33 asishown hasfthereinV aY mattress 37, i a -bedspring .3S .and aY table; 39. Thesemay Veasily :be Y

removed manuallyy for; use'. f

Thuszit is seen that Lhave 4provided a very Velcient and easily handledportable camping tent which-may be easily'carried ina casing'secured to thetop of af'vehicle and which may' be'placed ini operating position! very quicklyand very easily 'adjacentone' side of Vsaid vehicle. YIt willY of course begunderstoodithat lvarious changes may be made in the form, details;l arrangement and pro-v ,Y portions 'of the parts, withoutV departingfrom theifscope of applicants invention, which `generally. slt'atedrzconsistsV in ra, device capableV of. vcarrying Voutrthe `objects above set forth, iri'theV partsV and combinationsfofxparts disclosed. and `ileiined in'fthe lappended claims... Whatis claimedis: p Y

* 1. A tent'tobe used in connection withf a'velliclelfha'wY Y ing in combinatiom autent, a .casingA ofgggeneralf :paralf ber -Sil-which may be'knotted. A rigid bar-shaped member 29fjis provided yadapted to extend across member"` 15 arItLhavel its end4 portions removably clamped` tothe end portionsaof members 15a and 15b. Y' A hook member Y 2911.1`ssecuredto the central portion of. member 29v and loop. lil-secured ftothe central .top portion of :saidgtent .hSPOSldl .oven ,said hook; toraise said centralV` top portion, of. ,said`;tentgwhen,in operating position. Y y

In'operation, tent Zewill be carried 'in .casing 11 and .maybefreely moved abouton theltop oa vehicle, such ing in combination, acasinggenerallyl parallelpipe form; 'and having a" substantial jh'efight; .members having lele'pipedformrand having Va substantial height onsaid f vehicle, guide*V members V'disposed at opposite sidesofsaid casing transversely 'of said' vehicle, Va member Ymovable inY -said guide'members and extendable outwardly therefrom, auxiliary'- supporting ,members pivotally'secured-tof said member and movable in'said' guide'v memberssaid.rst

mentioned'member havinglthe upper endlportion fjsaid tent'securedthe'reto, a'me'mbe'r secured toithelo'we'izporl tion of said tent, means connectingy said iirstmentied member and-said last'mentioned member for` raising's'aid last mentioned member Yupwardly adjacent said iirs't me1riber wherebysa'id tentmay be' put in folded pvosition'a'nd Y disposed in said casing with saidrst and saidlla'stgmen suction cup tippedY end portionsT for'V supporting said' cas-' in casing111,=;the. loo-p 31 ,is removed froml hook 29a 'and member z2 isV .removed from.member-15.1 The VendA portions` offrmem g, Y

bers 2,39A are thenfpulled downwardly andV membergs VVs moved upwardly Vtowards member 15an`dftent-261,isV foldedY accordion-,like therebetween.` Said Amlembersil) 1 Member 15 isV then easily movedtin- A a storageY sparcej-for Y ing on said vehicle, members securing said casing to said vehicle, guide members disposed at opposite sides of said casing transversely of said vehicle, a rigid member slidable in said guide members, a tent having its upper end portion secured to said last mentioned member, auxiliary supporting member respectively pivotally secured to said last mentioned member and movable in said guide members for holding said last mentioned member in suspended position, and means for raising said tent in folded condition adjacent said last mentioned member or for lowering the tent.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, a oor member disposed in said casing, the bottom end portion of said tent being secured to said oor member, said last men tioned means connecting said rigid member and said last mentioned member.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, and a bar member disposable over the top of said rigid member, and means for hooking and raising the central top portion of said tent to said bar member whereby the top of said tent will quickly shed water.

5. A tent to be used in connection with a vehicle having in combination, a casing substantially parallelepiped in form secured tothe top of said vehicle, a member slidably supported by said casing and slidable outward to one side of said vehicle, a tent adapted to be folded accordion-like in said casing and having its upper end portion secured to said member and suspendable therefrom, spaced channels in said casing in which said member is slidable into and out of said casing, and means connected to said member and to the bottom of said tent for folding said tent upwardly adjacent said member whereby said folded tent and said member are slidable into said casing.

6. A tent to be used in connection with a vehicle having in combination, a casing of parallelepiped form secured to the top ofvsaid vehicle, a member slidable in said casing and extendable outward to one side thereof, means in said casing for holding said member suspended in extended position, a tent disposed in said casing in accordion-like folds and having a portion thereof secured to said member, means for releasing said tent to depend from said member in operating position and to be drawn upwardly adjacent said member in accordion-like folded condition, guide members formed at opposite sides of said casing transversely of said vehicle, said member having portions movable in said guide members and said means comprising elongated supporting members hinged to said portions or said member movable in said guides for holding said member suspended in extended position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,285,766 Martin Nov. 26, 1918 1,659,825 MacKay Feb. 2l, 1928 1,752,571 Olson Apr. 1, 1930 1,834,489 Hauber Dec. 1, 1931 1,849,738 Amico Mar. 15, 1932 2,134,879 Levy Nov. 1, 1938 2,496,085 Engelheart Jan. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 798,110 France Mar. 2, 1936 

